apontassem

Apontassem is a verb form in Portuguese, specifically the third-person plural of the preterite imperfect subjunctive (pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo) of the verb apontar, which means to point out, indicate, or mark. As a subjunctive form, apontassem is used in dependent clauses that express doubt, hypothetical situations, wishes, or unreality, typically in the past or in counterfactual contexts.

In practice, apontassem appears in sentences that introduce a condition, doubt, or non-factual scenario. It is commonly found after conjunctions such as se (if), para que (so that), or que (that) when the main clause conveys uncertainty or a hypothetical premise. Examples include: Se eles apontassem as falhas, poderíamos corrigir o projeto; Não era certo que eles apontassem o defeito sem ouvir a outra parte; Era necessário que eles apontassem os erros antes da entrega. Além disso, apontassem can occur in indirect speech or in subordinate clauses of past narration, especially in formal or literary Portuguese.

The form serves the same grammatical function across varieties of Portuguese, including Brazilian and European Portuguese, though spoken usage may favor other verbal forms in casual speech. It contrasts with the indicative imperfect, apontavam, which states a past ongoing action rather than a hypothetical or desired one. The infinitive and other conjugations of apontar share the same root, with apontar meaning “to point out” or “to indicate,” while apontassem specifically denotes a hypothetical or non-real past scenario in the subjunctive mood.